Door retaining device



June 1941. R. H. HUTCHINSON 2,244,949

DOOR RETAINING DEVICE Filed Nov. 29, 1938 Patented June 10, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR RETAINING DEVICE Robert H. Hutchinson, Dallas, Tex.

Application November 29, 1938, Serial No. 242,953

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in retainers for hinged doors particularly adapted for use in connection with garage doors.

One object of the invention is to provide a device for retaining doors in either an open or closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for retaining doors in a desired position without the use of props, whereby elements such as Wind may not swing said doors thus lengthening the life of said doors.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device which will retain hinged garage doors wide open while driving a vehicle through said doors thus eliminating the possible damage to said doors or vehicle being driven therethrough.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a door retaining device particularly adapted to garage doors, whereby when doors are left open a strong wind may overcome the tension of the spring of the device, thereby closing said doors to keep said doors from being damaged, said device retaining said doors closed until such time as they are opened manually.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device for retaining doors open or closed whereby said doors may not swing upon their hinges thereby doing away with all undesirable noises connected therewith.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein means for carrying out the invention are disclosed and wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a door retainer constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device mounted on a frame and door for use.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device with the door in its closed position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the door open, and

Figure 5 is an end elevation.

In the drawing, the numeral I9 designates a spring actuated toggle link arrangement comprising the invention.

A bracket I l is secured to the usual door frame I2 and has one end of a link bar l3 pivoted thereto at 14. The outer end of said bar is pivotally connected at l5 to a second link bar [6 near one end thereof. One end of the bar I5 is pivoted at l8 to a bracket ll, said bracket being suitably secured to a door [9.

The other end of the bar It is turned downwardly at right angles to form a lug 20. A lug 2| is similarly formed at one end of the bracket ll. Holes 22 and 23 are provided in the lugs 20 and 2| respectively.

A spiral spring 24 has its ends secured within the holes 22 and 23 of the lugs 29 and 2!, said spring tending at all times to pull said lugs toward each other.

A third link bar 25 is pivoted beneath the bar [6 at the pivot points l5 and I8. One end 26 of this bar is turned upwardly to contact the bottom side of the bar l6, thereby forming a stop for the device as will hereinafter be explained.

In operation the bracket II is secured to the door frame i2 by any means such as screws 21,

while the bracket I1 is similarly secured to the door i 9. By observing Figures 3 and 4 the action of the device may readily be ascertained.

The toggle link arrangement II) is retained in either an open or closed position by the oif-center tension of the spring 24. That is, the pivot point l4 and lug 2! act as a dead center alinement, and as the door I9 is swung in an open movement, the pivot point l5 passes said dead center. As may clearly be seen in Figures 3 and 4, said point I5 is off-center of the point [4, whereby the spring 24 may exert pressure upon the bar [6 to retain the toggle links in the desired position.

By observing Figure 4 it may be seen that the upwardly extending portion 26 or that portion of the bar 25 which is bent into contiguous relation to the bar It will have a slight degree of resiliency sufiicient to allow the link I3 when forcefully propelled beyond the position shown in this figure, to slide thereunder. When this occurs, it is apparent that the closing speed of the door will be materially lessened and the shock will be absorbed.

From the foregoing it may be seen that a door retainer simple in construction, cheap in manufacture and positive in action is had.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed within the scope and meaning of the appended claim is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A door retaining device comprising an angular mounting bracket in fixed relation to the frame of said door, a single link pivoted at one end to said angular bracket and extending substantially at right angles to the inner surface of said door when the latter is. closed, double links connected together with one end of one link arranged for outward springing action under pressure and to which the opposite end of said single link is pivoted and engageable in frictional contact with said double links to bring pressure to bear on the springable end of one of the links at each extreme position of the link assembly to provide a shock absorbing medium, a second mounting of said double links extending beyond the point of pivot thereto of said single link, a coil spring, one end of which is connected to the end'of said extended link, the other end of said spring being secured to the angular stationary mounting member whereby said spring will apply tension upon all of said links on either side of their relative pivotal points to retain the same in predetermined positions to hold said door in open or bracket secured to said door and to which said 10 closed positions.

7 double links are pivoted at their outer ends, one

ROBERT H. HUTCHINSON. 

